Operating means for bed-and-cylinder printing press



J y 1959 M. A. DROITCOUR 2, 9

OPERATING MEANS FOR BED-ANDCYLINDER PRINTING PRESS Filed May 14, 1956 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR; 114i chael/Lflrqi hear BY 'vazg ATTORNEKS'Z July 28, 1959 M. A. DROITCOUR 5, OPERATING MEANS FOR BED-AND-CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS Filed May 14, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I E'yr/O.

I N V EN TOR. Mic]: arelA.Drgii cour July 28, 1959 M. A. DROITCOUR 2,896,538

OPERATIIIG MEANS FOR BED-AND-CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS Filed May 14, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet s 1N VEN TOR.

July 28, 1959 M. A DROITCOUR 2,396,538

OPERATING MEANS FOR BED-AND-CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS Filed May 14, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 INVENTOR: I

MicbaelADrqificouf ATTDRAEKS';

United States Patent Ofiice MEANS FOR BED-AND-CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS OPERATING This invention relates to improvements in printing presses of the flat bed-and-cylinder type in which a bed or platen carrying a type or other print ng form 1s reciprocated to traverse it back and forth beneath a rotary impression cylinder that feeds the paper sheets.

One object of the invention is to provide for greater accessibility of the impression cylinder and also the type-form on the bed without the necessity for lifting, swinging or removing any of the parts to gain access thereto for make-ready. r p

. Another object is to provide improved means for rotating the impression cylinder in synchrony with the printing stroke of the bed or platen and arresting the rotation of the cylinder for an interval during each reverse or idle stroke of the bed.

Another object is to provide means for rotating the impression cylinder from the reciprocatory motion of the bed with means for disconnecting it from the drive and locking the cylinder to hold it in a state of complete rest during the idle stroke of the bed.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved drive for converting continuous reciprocatory motion into intermittent rotary motion for use in printing presses of the flat bed-and-cylinder. typeand other. machines having different characteristics- Another object is to provide improved means for intermittently rotating the cylinder from continuously driven gearing and disconnecting it therefrom at regular intervals during the reverse strokes of the bed.

Another object is to provide-an improved form of rack-and-gear drive between the traveling carriage and the bed for multiplying the motion of the bed relative to that of the carriage whereby to conserve space in the machine.

Another object is to provide a novel construction of drive from the reciprocating bedto the impression cylinder by means of a rack carried by the bed and meshing with a pair of driving pinions arranged in tandem so as to shorten the length of the rack and prevent it from projecting beyond the end of the frame.

Another object is to provide manually-operable means for raising the impression cylinder out ofoperative relation to the bed and sustaining it in. elevated position.

Another object is to overcome back-lash in the drive to prevent overrun or out-of-register displacement between the cylinder and the printing form.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a smooth, steady drive between the bed and the impres sion cylinder by means of a simple and compact mechanism with its elements not subject to extreme wear or liable to disorganization. a j

The invention is herein described as embodied in a preferred form of construction, byway of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawmgs: j

Fig. l is a side elevation of a bed-and-cylinder press embodying the present improvements as illustrative of the invention;

Patented July 28, 1959 Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same viewed toward the left in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view at one end of the machine, part-sectional on line :33 of Fig. 2 and more clearly illustrating the geared drive for the impression cylinder; a

Fig. 4 is a similar view, part sectional on 'line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and showing the arrangement of the drive for the reciprocating bed; i

Fig. 5 is a still further enlarged end view of the impression cylinder showing the gearing of the intermittent drive therefor; a

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the drive for the cylinder at a different stage in its operation with the driving gears out of mesh; a V

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the drive for the cylinder with the gears in mesh; i i

Fig. 8 is a greatly enlarged transverse sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 6 showing the gearing for rotating the impression cylinder and the means for disconnect ing the drive;

Fig. 9 is a similar view taken in showing the drive disconnected with to hold it at rest; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectionalview of the driving connections between the impression cylinder and its driving gear showing the means foradapting the cylinder to be raised on the frame of the press.

In general, the present improvements are embodied in a printing press comprising an impression cylinder journaled for rotation in the framework 3 of the machine overlying a fiat bed 5 for traversing a printing form 6 relatively to thecylinder. The bed 5 may be mounted on a reciprocating carriage having rollers to adapt it to slide longitudinally on suitable tracks or Ways when traversed back and forth beneath the impression cylinder 2 by crank-means of Scotch yoke type, so called. The reciprocatory motion of the bed 5 is con: verted into rotary motion for the cylinder 2 bymeans of a rack-and-gear connection as more particularly. described hereinafter. The present invention is especially concerned with improved meansfor disconnecting the drive from the cylinder '2. to provide for arresting its rotation at intervals during the reverse or idle traverse stroke of the bed 5 after a printing operation and then reconnecting the drive as the forward printing stroke of the bed is initiated. 3 1 a Referring to the drawings, theframework 3 of the press may consist of suitable upright side frames 7 connected at one end by a rectangular cross-frames (Fig.

the same plane the cylinder locked 2) land at the opposite end by a suitable cross-member or stringer 9. A third intermediate cross-frame 10 spaced at a distance from the end frame 8 may be employed for bracing the side frames 7, with the several parts of the framework welded orbolted together to provide a rigid structure. Extending between and connected to the two cross-frames 8 and 10 is a Iongitu dinally-extending frame-member 11 bisecting the space between the side frames 7 in parallel relation thereto. The above described framework mounts the bearings for journaling the severalshafts of the operating mechanism of the press and other parts hereinafter described. a

The bed 5 on which the printing form 6 is fastened by suitable means takes the form of a flat platen carried by a reciprocating carriage 12 constituted by a hollow rectangular frame' (Figs. 1 and 2) mounted on wheels or rollers 13. As herein shownthere may be sixrollers 13 journaled on the ends of cross shafts 14. at eachside' of. the carriage 1 2. and adapted to travel on opposite parallel tracks 15. Two pairs of s hges 1611338. and 4) spaced apart and fastened to the cross-members 17'" off the carriage 1-2 ar'earranged to slide on the inner 7 sides. of. the. tracks. 15. to prevent. lateral displacement of the carriage. The tracks are supported at one end on the cross-frame 8 and at the opposite end by the cross-member or stringer 9 With the spaced crossframe 10 bracing them intermediate their/ends. The carriage. 12 is? reciprocated by means. of a so-called .Scot'ch yoke embodying a crank-gear of. relatively large diameter having a crankpin 21'. mounted in. its rim with a roll 22 journaled thereon for engagement with thesides'of a groove 23 in a vertical yoke-head 25. The yoke-head 25 is bolted or otherwise suitably fastened to the side of the carriage 12 (Figs. 2 and 3) and has an" l.r-shaped; shoe 26 at its upper end engaging across the bottom and side. of a longitudinally-extending. rail 27. A similar shoe 28 at the bottom of the yoke-head 25; overhangs the: top and. side ofai rail 29. The two rails?! and 29 extend horizontally between the end frame 8 and the intermediate frame 10;. being suitably fastened thereto with'the shoes 26. and 28 adapted to slide along the rails during thereciprocation of the carria ge 12.-

The yoke-head 25 is formed at top and bottom with cylindrical bearings 30 and 31 (Fig. 2) for a vertical shaft 33 carrying pinion-gears 34 and 35 fast on its ends. The teeth of the gears 34 and 35 meshrespectively with rack-teeth 36. and 37 formed in thesides of the rails 27 'and'2'9; the purpose of this form of construction being to steady the traverse motion of the Scotch yoke 25 by maintaining the shoes 26 and 28 in close engagement with-the rails as they slide therealong.

'Thecrank-gea'r. 20 is mounted fast on a transverse shaft 40 (Figs. 1 and 2) journaled at one end in a hearing in one of the side frames 7 and at its opposite end in a' bearing in the longitudinal frame-member 11, previously mentioned. The crank-gear 20 may be driven tram a pinion (Figs. 1 and 4) fast on a countersh'aft' 46 journaled in hearings in the side frames 7 and longitudinal frame 11. A suitable grooved pulley 47 on the shaft" 46 may be driven from an electric motor 50 inonmeaon a platform 51 extending between the side frames 7 with its armature shaft connected to the pulley Bya suitable belt 52.] It will thus be apparent that as the crank-gearjlfl is rotated] from the motor-drive the crank pin' 21 will act through its roll 22' to reciprocate theyOke head 2'5 back and forth to thereby traverse the carriage 12 in' opposite directions with its rollers 13' traveling on the rails 15. During this traversing motion of the'carriage 12' the pinions 34 and 35 on the ends of a shaft 33 rotate first in one direction and then in the opposite direction as they" travel along the rails 27 and 29 to steady the motion. of the yoke-head 25, it being noted that. the pinions and their shaft have -no f-iirther function in the drive. i

The bed" 5 is traversed from the carriage 12 by a novel andingenious arrangementof means which accelcrates the rate of speed of the bed and multiplies its motion relatively to the carriage; The bed 5 is connecte'd' for reciprocation by the traverse of the carriage 12 by apair of pinion-gears 55 fast on the ends of a traverse-shaft 56 (Figs. 2 and 4)' journaled in suitable hearings in the sides of the carriage. As shown in Figs. 2,3: and4, the teeth of the gears 55 mesh at the top with the teeth of racks 57 fastened in slots 58 on the under side of the bed 5- andat the bottom with the teeth of parallel racks 60; the lower racks 60- being held in slots in longitudinally-extending bars 61 fastened at their ends to' the cross-members 8 and 10.. Supported from the longitudinal bars 61 by upright side plates 62 bolted thereto (Figs. 2 and 3) are parallel rails 63 extending longitudinally of the frame 3 and engaged by L-shaped shoes 64, preferably four. in number, fastened in slots onthe'under sideof the bed'5. V The shoes 64- slide along the rails 63' during the traverse of the bed 5 and thus" hold the bedfrom rising" off the rollers 13 which support it to slide thereon.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that by use of the pinion-gears 55- meshing with the teeth of the lower racks 60 fast on the framework 3 and the upper racks 57 on the under side of the bed 5, the bed is given an increment of motion during the reciprocation of the carriage 12 in opposite directions and is traversed at a faster rate than thatof the. carriage; thus multiplying the extent of motion of the bed and accelerating its rate of traverse.

As has been stated;w the impression cylinder 2 is driven from thereciprocationof the-bed 5-by converting the reciprocatory motion thereof to rotary motion. To arrest therotation of. thefcylinder 2 the drive must be disconnected as. the direction of travel of the bed is reversed for traversing it in an idle stroke after each printing impression. By this improved arrangement the use of shiftable gears, clutches or the like previously employed in the present art is obviated. For this purpose I have devised a novel and ingenious mechanism for arresting the rotationof the cylinder with a dwell after each complete revolution of 360 comprising a mutilated gear 70 driven from a driving gear 71'. The cylinder 2 is mounted faston a transverse shaft 72 providing gud'g eons at its ends journaled in bores 74 in cylindrical bearing-bosses 73 rotatabl'e in bores in the side.frames--7 (Figs; l and 10). The bores 74" for the ends of the shaft 72 are offset in eccentric relation to the axes of the bosses 73 whereby a pair of cranks 75', formed integral with or fastened to the outer ends of the: bosses (Figs. 1 and 2), may be used for rotating the bosses to raise the shaft 72 and lift the cylinder above the form 6 on the bed 5, this means being more completely described hereinafter.

As-shown in: the enlarged. views (Figs; 5 to 7), the mutilated gear: 70- is in the form of a ring or. annulus bolted to the side of a disk 76 and arranged concentric to its axis, the disk 76 "oeing journaledv free to turn on a hollow bearing 77 bolted to-theside of the frame 7. Between the disk 76 and the end of the cylindcr'Z in laterally-spaced relation thereto is a circular plate or-disk 78 connected to the first-named disk 76 by shouldered studs 79' (Figs. 2 and 5), insertedthroughholes therein with'nuts on their ends. The opposite ends of tlie studs 79' are slidably engaged in radial'slot's 30- located diametrically opposite on the periphery of the disk 78L The disk 781is connect'ed to'drivel the-cylinder 2 by means of shouldered: pins or. studs 81v screwed. into the end disks orrunners 4ofthecylinderand slidably engaged in radial slots 821located diametrically opposite on the disk 78: and: spaced 90. from the slots therein. The con-' struction last described is employed herein for adapting the compression cylinder 2 to be raised relatively to the bed and printing formv 6wvithout disconnecting itfrom the gear. 70 or changing. its, angular relationship in respectthereto.

For manually raising. the? cylinder 2 I' may employ. a pair: ofirelatively long links 84 (;Figs. 1, 2 and 8 pivotally connected at their upper ends tocrank-pins 85 onthe cranks 75 and similarlyconne'cted. at their lower ends to? pins 86' on1crank-s87. The cranks 87 arefaston the ends of. a transverse shaft 88': which is rotatable in bear ings' in. the side frames 7. The crank-pin 86 on each crank'85 may be extended in a handle 39 adapted to be grasped for rotating thesh'aft-38 to actthrongh the links 84 and turn the? cranks 75 'cl'ockwise. Th'e cranks 75 on the'bearlingf'bosses73 wilglthus be caused to rotate t'he' bosses 'in their bearings in the side frames 7 to thereby displace theecc'enti-ica-lly' related bearing-bores 74 for the ends ofthe shaft 72 clockwise and liftthe cylinder: If desired, detent-mean's may be provided for holding'the shaft 72 raised with the cylinder in elevatedjrelatiom The means for converting the reciprocatory motion of thebed S'into rotary motion toturn the'cylinder 2 con sists in' a rack-and-gear transmission (Figs. "2" and '47) that drives the gear 71 in alternately-opposite directions. Mounted on the under side of the bed 5 is a flat bar 100 having a toothed rack 101 fastened thereto in offset parallel relation to the side of the bed. The teeth of the rack 101 mesh with the teeth of two pinion-gears 102 and. 103 journaled in spaced-apart tandem relationship along the frame 7. The gear 103' is fast on a countershaft 104 journaled in a bushing 105 secured in a bore in the side frame 7. Keyed to the shaft 104 in concentric relation to the gear 103, or fast therewith, is a gear 107 having its teeth in mesh with the teeth of'the gear 71 to drive it forrotating the impression cylinder 2. The tandem gear 102is likewise fastwith a gear 106 rotatable thereby and also having its teeth in mesh with the teeth of the intermediate gear 71 fortaking over the drive from the rack !101. By this ingenious construction the rack 101 may-be shortened to prevent it being projected beyond the end of the frame 3. A gear 108 fast on the outer end of the shaft 104-may be provided for driving the inking rolls of the press, indicated generally at 109 at 109in Fig. l, but not herein described.

The novel and improved means for intermittently rotating'theimpres-sion cylinder 2 during a printing stroke of the form'6 comprises the mutilated driven gear 70 having the gap 90 in its teeth due to the absence of certain of them. Cooperating cam-means areprovided forinitiating the rotation of the cylinder 2 after each interval of rest 'by advancing the teeth at the end of the gap 90 into mesh with the teeth of the driving. gear 71. Mounted on the side of the disk 76 is a hinged camme'mbr 91 (Fig. 5) formed with arcuate slots 94 and 95 adapted to be engaged respectively by pins 92 and 93 carried on the intermediate gear 71 and revolved thereby about the axis of said gear. As shown in Fig. 8 the cam-member 91 is hinged on a pin 97 held in a yokeshaped bearing 98 fastened to the side of the disk 76 by screws 99. A cover-plate 110 fastened to the bearing 98 by the same screws 99 overlies the cam-member 91 and serves to limit its pivotal movement away from the disk 76. A helical spring 111 seated in a pocket 112 in the gear 70 with its opposite end held in a pocket 113 in the cam-member 9.1 normally tends to hold the cam-member bearing against the back of the coverplate'110 (Fig. 8) to position it in the path of the revolving pins 92 and 93.

The driving gear 71 for the cylinder 2 is .journaled on a stud-shaft 115 held in a bore in the side frame 7 with a flange 116 at one end and a collar 118 at its opposite end fastened by a set-screw 119 for holding the gear on the shaft. A compound disk-member 120 on the side of the gear71 bears against a washer 121 abutting the side of the frame 7 to prevent displacement of the gear in the opposite direction. The compound member 120 comprises a disk 122 fastened to the side of the gear 71 by screws 123 and formed with an offset radial arm 124 (Fig. 5) carrying the pin 92 at its end'centered on the pitch-line of the teeth of the gear 71. A second disk-like member 125 having its circular portion 126 fastened to the side of the disk 122 by screws 127 is formed with a radial arm or finger '128 carrying the pin 93 'at'its outer end likewise centered on the pitch-line of the teeth of the gear 71. Of these two pins, one 92 may be considered for convenience of description the starting pin and'the other 93 the stopping pin.

Referring particularly to Figs. 6to 9, inclusive, the slots 94 and 95 in the cam-plate 91 are of arcuate shape on a radius corresponding to that of the pitch-diameter of the driven gear 70. The cam-slots 94 and 95 in the cam-member -91 are'disposed in tangent relation to the pitch circle of the teeth on the driving gear 71 with the openings at their outer ends located in the path of the pins 92 and 93 as the driving gear 71 rotates in clockwise direction. It will be understood that the pins 92 and 93 are caused to enter the slots 9 4 and 95 only. when" the W' RP W 4.9 %.$1 9999? Pr sser? te 6 tionship by the spring 111 (Fig. 8). Fig. 6 ofthe drawings illustrates the impression cylinder 2as at rest with the starting pin 92 about to enter the cam-slot 94 for connecting the drive from the gear 71 to the driven gear to initiate the rotation of the cylinder. At this point the vacant space or gap in the teeth of the driven gear 70 is centered opposite the gear 71 and the bed 5 has been traversed to the left to complete its idle stroke as the gear 71 is rotated counterclockwise with the cylinder 2 remaining at rest. The traverse of the bed 5 is then reversed as the roll 22 on the crank-pin 21 crosses deadcenter (Fig. 4) whereby to traverse the bed 5 to the right beneath the cylinder 2 for the printing stroke. It is further to be observed that the pins 92 and 93 engage in alternate order with their respective cooperating slots 94 and in the cam-member 91, see Figs. 5 and 6. That is to say, the pin 92 engages the slot 94 to turn the gear 70 ahead and enmesh its teeth with the teeth of the gear 71 for initiating rotation of the cylinder 2 and driving it through an impression cycle as the bed moves to the right. At the completion of this latter stroke of the bed 5 the rotation of the cylinder 2 is arrested as the gap 90in the teeth of the driven gear 70 moves into center relatively to the driving gear 71. At thisjuncture the cam-member 91 is swung into inoperative relationship. The crankmotion then reverses the reciprocation of the bed 5 to traverse it to the left, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, during an idle stroke. During this return of the bed 5 to first position the rotation of the driving gear 71 is reversed to turn it counterclockwise and thereby the other arm 128 on the gear 71 is carried into position for its pin 93. to enterthe opening in the second cam-slot 95. During this reverse rotation of the gear 71, the gear 70 and cylinder 2 remain at rest throughout the idle stroke of the bed 5. Thus, as the traverse of the bed 6 is again reversed to turn the gear 71 clockwise (Fig. 5) the pin 93 will travel through the slot 95 in the cam-member 91 to advance the driven gear 70 and enmesh its teeth with the teeth of said gear 71 for rotating the cylinder 2 to complete another impression of the typeform inthe same manner as above explained in connection with the previous cooperation between the pin 72 and cam-slot 94. During this reverse stroke of the bed 5 thedriving gear 71 is rotated clockwise and intermeshed with the gear 70 for rotating the {cylinder 2 counter-clockwise, the drive being energized in the manner as next explained.

The drive is connected to initiate rotation of the .cylin der 2 by the camming action of the pin 92 as it slides in the cam-slot 94 to turn the gear 70 ahead and intermesh its teeth with the teeth of the gear 71; it being noted that at this point the cam-member 91 will have been swung forwardly (Fig. 8) to position it in the path of the pins 92 and 93. After the teeth of the gear 70 have thus been intermeshed with the teeth of the gear 71. the cylinder 2 is rotated in'counter-clockwise direction While the printing' form 6 is traversed toward the right beneath the cylinder to cause an impression to be taken on the paper being fed by the cylinder. During this rotation of the cylinder 2 the pin 92 will ride out from the slot 94 as the gear 70 continues to be driven by the gear 71. As the cylinder 2 is turned through slightly less than a com plete revolution of 360 the stopping pin 93 is carried around by the gear 71 to engage it in the slot 95 in the cam-member 91 just before the teeth of the gear 71 leave the teeth of the gear 70 at the end of the gap 90. The pin 93 then takes overto transmitan increment of motion to the gear 70 to center the gap 90 on a line intersectingthe axes of the :gears 70 and71 (Fig. 5). This additional turning of the. gear 70 .by thecamming action of the pin-93 in the slot 95 brings the. locking means into action for positively holding the cylinder 2 at rest, the

locking means being constructed. and arranged as next described. 3 1

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, a locking pm 130 is' slidably mounted in a flanged. lgmshing 131 held in a bero innthq sideframefl withrthereducedend 132 of the pin adapted for. insertion through a hole in the: cover-plate. 110 of the cam-member 91 to act as a'bolt for positively lockingTthecylinder 2 against rotation. The hole in the coverplate 110- is' brought into' accurate. register with the end of. the-pine 130 by the increment of movement imparted to the gear 70 by the pin 93 at the end of its rotation by the. gear. 71". The end of the'locking pin 130 is thus caused to. engage against the cam-member 91 (Fig. 9) to rock it rearwardly against the pressure of its spring 111 whereby to shift it out of the path of the pins 92 and 93. At this juncture; the rotation of the gear 70 has been arrested: and the pins. 92 and. 93' will clear the cammember 91 asthe rotation of the gear 71 is reversed during the. idle: return stroke Otf the bed 5. The runners 4 at the ends 'of-th'e impression cylinder 2 rotate in contact with bearers.44= extending along the sides of the printing form 6: during the printing stroke of the bed 5. They are preferably flatted at 129 (Figure 3) opposite the gap 90 in the teeth of the gear 70* to provide a slight clearance during the return stroke of the bed .so as to avoid contact with. the bearers 44 when the cylinder 2 is at rest. a

The locking pin 130 is formed with a cylindrical head 1 33 slotted on opposite sides'to receive the circular end of the forked arm 134 of a bell-crank lever 135. The bell-crank lever 135T (Fig. 8) is pivoted on a pin 136 held in the vertical arm. of an elbow-shaped bracket 137 (Fig. 1) fastened to the side of the frame 7. Pivotally connectedto the bell-crank lever. 135 at 138 is a link 140 extending downwardly alongside the frame. 7 with its lower endpivotcd to one arm of' asecond bell-crank lever 141 rockably mounted on a pin 142 in the frame 7. The other arm of the bell-crank lever 141 is. connected to a horizontally extending slide 145 having its opposite end slotted to form a fork 146 straddling the shaft 40 of the crank-gear 20 to slidably support it thereon. Fast on the end of the shaft 40 is a cam 150 arranged with its periphery engaging. aroll 1 51 journaledon the slide 145.

"A helical spring 152 is anchored at its upper end to the side frame 7 with its lower end fastened to the link 140 whereby it tends to draw the latter upwardly to rock the bell-crank lever 141 for maintaining the roll 151 in contact with. the periphery of the cam 150 during the rotation thereof. The cam. 150'has a radially-projecting lobe 153 extending throughout slightly more than onehalf is circumference and engaging theroll 151 .to move the slide 145 toward the left as viewed in Fig. 1. Such action. will rock the bell-crank lever 141 counter-clockwise and draw the link 140 downwardly for oscillating the. upper bell-crank 135' to project the plunger or locking pin 130 (Fig. 9) through its bushing and impinge its end against the cam-member 91 to shift the latter out of operative relationship while also engaging the end of the pin. 130 with. the hole in the cover-plate 1'10.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4 of'the drawings, a Wooden feed-table 154 supported in inclined relation above the framework 3 has its lower end in position to direct the paper sheetsto the under side of the cylinder 2. Suitable grippers. 158 mounted" in an opening in the cylinder 2 are adapted to seizethe end of the paper strip to cause it to be carried around with the cylinder. blanket 155. of resilient material is applied to the surface of thecylinder 2 to cushion the impression of the type or other printing form thereagainst. A take-off cylinder 156 is-journaled above the impression cylinder Z-and-rotated. in synchrony therewith for feeding the sheets off therefrom. Suitable inking rollers such as indicated'general'ly at 109' (Fig. 1) and an ink font are provided for i'nking-"thetype or other form, these parts not being hereinsliownand described in detail as they form no part oii'ihez present invention. a

To recapitulate, the method of operation of the press for a complete printing. cycle is explained as folliowsi Usually, a

-;;The' presstatisr'operated. under power applied by' the 7 5 motor to the pulley 47 fordriving the pinionagear. 45- to rotate the crank-gear 20. Continuousrotation. of the crank-gear 20 revolves the crank-pin 21 to reciprocate the Scotch-yoke-for traversing the carriage1 2 and thereby the bed 5 in alternately opposite: directions. During the reciprocationof the carriage 12 the. pinion-gears; (Fig. 2) travel along. the stationary racks and are ro+ tated in engagement with the racks 57 to traversethe bed 5 at an accelerated speed with an increase in the extent of. its traverse over that of the carriage.

The traverse of the bed 5 is communicated through the spaced tandem gears 102 and 103 to rotate the compans ion gears 106 and-107, respectively, for drivingthe intermediate gear 71- to rotatethe cylinder 2. Assuming that the bed 5 and printing form 6 are in the relationship shown in Fig. 4 and a paper sheethas'been applied to the cylinder. 2 in the manner previously explained, the cylinder will be at rest with the teeth ofits gear.70. out of meshwith those of the driving gear. 71 due to the gap'9t) (Fig. 6). t 7

At this point the cylinder 2 isheld from rotation by the lockingv bolt 130 engaging the hole in the coverplate 110 on the cam-member 91. (-Fig. 9).- Asthe crank-pin 21 on the gear 20 crosses center and star-.tsthe traverse of the bed 5 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, the locking pin 130 is withdrawn from engagement: with the hole in the cover-plate 110 to unlock the cylinder. 2 and simultaneously therewith release the cam-member 91 to cause its spring 111 to rock it forwardly into oper-. ative position as shown in Fig.8. During the printing stroke of the bed 5 towards the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, the gear 71 will be rotated in clockwise direction by the pinion-gear 106 and the cam-mechanism will thereby be caused to act to turn the gear by the action of the pin 92 sliding through the cam-slot 94 (Fig. 6 This action advances the gear 70 to bring its teeth at the end of the gap into mesh with the. teeth of the gear 71 whereby to rotate the cylinder 2 counter-clockwise during the printing stroke of the beds carrying the form 6. After the teeth of the gear 70'have been interrncshed with the teeth of the. driving gear 71 the cylinder will be driven from the gear 71 with the pin 92. reversing its travel in the cam-slot 94 until it recedes therefromv as shown in Fig. 7. The drive-between the gear 71 and gear 70 is continued to rotate the cylinder 2"until the gap 90 in the teeth of the gear 70 is carried around into position to disengage its teeth (Fig. 5) from; those. of the gear 71. At this juncture the pin 93 willenter the cam-slot to extend the rotation of the gear 70 until the center of the gap reaches a point on a lineintersecting the axis of both gears 70 and 71. The pin 93will then ride out of the cam-slot 95 as indicated in Fig. '5 after the gear 70 has brought the cam-member 91 around into position to register the hole in the cover-plate 1 10 with the end of the locking pin 130. Immediately this occurs the cam 150 (Fig. 1) on the shaft 40 of the crank-gear 20 will have been rotated to cause its lobe 151' to act against the roller 151 to slide the slide 145 to the left as viewed in Fig. 1. This action rocks the bell-crank 141 to draw down the link 1140 and thereby rock the upper bell-crank- 135, for sliding the pin 1130 into engagement with the hole in the cover-plate of the cam-rnember 91 to lock the cylinder2 from turning. V:

The cylinder 2 is thus brought to rest and locked asthe bed 5 completes its stroke towardthe right as shown" in Fig. 3. The crank-pin 21 on the. crank-gear 20 will then reverse the motion of the Scotch yoke head- 25 tov travel the carriage 12 toward the left. in anidle. stroke while the cylinder 2 remains at rest. The printing form. 6 is thus carried back beneath the cylinder 2. to restore it to the position showncin Fig. 4 for starting another print.-. ing operation. It has been explained that during the return stro'ke'of the printing form 6..the flatted. portions 129 of the runners 4 on the cylinder. 2 (Fig. 4) provide. a clearance for preventing contact of. therunners. the bearers" 44 'at'th'e sidesof the form 61 It also;

9 been noted that during the traverse of the bed in each direction the end of the rack 101 will pass beyond the range of one of the tandem gears, for example the gear 102, while still engaged with the other gear 103 so that the drive to the intermediate gear 71 and the compression cylinder 2 is rendered continuous. Due to this improved construction the rack is reduced in length from what would be required if only one pinion-gear were used and consequently the rack will not protrude into the aisle at the end of the press during its traverse.

It will be observed from the foregoing specification tha the present invention provides a novel and ingenious mechanism for converting the reciprocatory motion of the bed into rotary motion for driving the compression cylinder of the press; also a novel means for disconnecting the drive to the cylinder to arrest its rotation during each idle traverse of the bed; and further, automaticallyoperated means for effectually locking the cylinder against rotation during each idle stroke of the bed.

As another feature of the present improvement, the mounting of the impression cylinder 2 in its bearings and the arrangement of its driving connection with the gear 70 provides that the cylinder may be raised on the frame of the press at any time without disturbing its relationship with respect to the gear 70. The lifting of the cylinder may be accomplished by turning one of the cranks 87 through use of the handle 89 so as to rock the shaft 88 and thereby slide both links 84 upwardly for turning the cranks 75 connected to the bosses 73 in which the gudgeons at the end of the cylinder shaft 72 are eccentrically journaled. With the cylinder 2 at rest and the gear 70 in the relationship shown in Fig. 6, the studs or pins 81 will be caused to slide in the radial slots 82 to permit the cylinder to be raised relatively to the gear 70 without disconnecting it therefrom; and likewise should the gear 70 be turned with one of the slots 80 toward the top, the cylinder may be raised'by turning the cranks .75 to cause the disk 78 to be bodily lifted with the pins 79 sliding in said slots 80.

While the present improvements are herein shown as applied to use in a printing press of the bed-and-cylinder type it is to be understood that the present improved means for converting reciprocatory motion into rotary motion; and the mechanical motion for driving a rotary element intermittently with an interval of dwell after each rotation, may be used with other types of machines without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a printing press of the type comprising a rotary impression cylinder and a reciprocating bed for traversing a printing form relatively to said cylinder, a driving gear,

means for rotating said driving gear, a gear adapted to be driven by said driving gear and connected to rotate said cylinder, said driven gear having a gap in its teeth for causing arrestment of its rotation, a earn-shaped member fast with said driven gear for rotation about the axis thereof, and meansconnected to and rotated by said driving gear concentrically of the axis of the latter for engaging with said cam-member for initiating the rotation of the driven gear to intermesh its teeth with the teeth of the driving gear after the rotation of the driven gear has been arrested due to'the gap in its teeth.

2. In a printing press of the type comprising a rotary impression cylinder and a reciprocatory bed for traversing a printing form relatively to said cylinder, means to reciprocate said bed, a driving gear, means for rotating said driving gear from the reciprocatory" motion of said bed, a gear adapted to be driven by said driving gear and connected to rotate said cylinder, said driven gear having a gap in its teeth for causingarrestrnent of its rotation, an eccentric cam fast with, said driven gearffor rotation about the same axis, and means connected to and rotatable by said driving gearconcentrically of the axis thereof for engaging withsaid cam tQ...advance said driven gear for enmeshing its teeth with the teeth of said driving gear.

3. In a printing press embodying a rotary impression cylinder and a reciprocatory bed for traversing a printing form relatively to said cylinder, means to reciprocate said bed, a driving gear rotated synchronously with the reciprocation of said bed, a gear adapted to be driven by said driving gear and connected to rotate said cylinder,

said driven gear formed with a gap in its teeth for causing arrestment of its rotation, a cam-shaped member fast with said driven gear for rotation about the axis of said gear and turning the driven gear to advance its teeth into mesh with the teeth of the driving gear, and means connected to said driving gear for rotation about its axis to engage said cam-member to initiate the rotation of said driven gear after each interval of rest.

4. In a printing press embodying a rotary impression cylinder and a reciprocatory bed for traversing a printing form relative to said cylinder, means for recipocating said bed to traverse it in opposite directions relative to said cylinder, a driving gear, means for converting the reciprocating motion of said bed to rotary motion for rotating said driving gear, a gear driven by said driving gear and connected to rotate said cylinder, said driven gear formed with a gap in its teeth for causing arrestment of its rotation, a cam-shaped member fast with said driven gear for rotation about its axis, and means rotated by said driving gear about an axis common to said driving gear for engaging said cam-member to turn the driven gear and advance its teeth into mesh with the teeth of the driving gear for rotating said cylinder after each interval of rest.

5. In a printing press comprising a rotary impression cylinder and a reciprocatory bed for carrying a printing form, means to reciprocate said bed for traversing said printing form in opposite directions relatively to said cylinder, a driving gear, means for converting the reciprocatory motion of the bed into rotary motion for rotating the driving gear, a gear driven by said driving gear for rotating said cylinder, said driven gear having a gap in its teeth for causing arrestment of its rotation, camshaped members on said driven gear for rotation therewith about a common axis, means rotatable by said driving gear about the axis of said gear for carrying it into engagement with said cam-members to advance the, teeth of said driven gear into mesh with the teeth of said driving gear after the rotation of the cylinder has been arrested, and means for locking said cylinder against rotation when the gap in the teeth of said driven gear is so related to the teeth of the driving gear as to arrest the rotation of the driven gear.

6. In a printing press embodying a rotary impression cylinder and a reciprocating bed for traversing a printing form relatively to said cylinder during a printing stroke, a driving gear rotated in opposite directions by the recip' rocatory motion of said bed, a gear driven by said driving gear and connected to rotate said cylinder, said driven gear having a gap in its teeth for causing arrestment of its rotation after each revolution of said. cylinder, cam.- means carried bysaid driven gear, means connected to and rotated by said driving gear about the axis of said gear for engaging said cam-means to initiate rotation of said driven gear and re-engage its teeth with the teeth of said driving gear to commence rotation. of the cylinder during a printing stroke of said bed, and means for shifting said cam-means out of operative relationship during the idle traverse of said bed.

7. In a printing press embodying a rotary impression cylinder and a reciprocatory bed for traversing a printing form relatively to said cylinder, means for reciprocating said bed totraverse said printing form for a printing stroke and reverse its traverse for an idle stroke, a driving gear rotatable in opposite directions by the reciprocation of said bed, agearadapted to be rotated by said fdriving gear and connected to rotate said cylinder, said driven gear having a gap in its teeth for causing an interval of rest after each revolution of said cylinder, cam-means hinged to said driven gear, means rotated by said driving gear about the axis of said gear to engage it with said cam-means for initiating rotation of the driven gear to re-engage its teeth with the teeth of said driving gear at the start of the printing stroke of said bed, and means to rock said cam-means on its hinge to displace it out of the path of the engaging means rotated by said driving gear.

8. In a printing press embodying a rotary impression cylinder and a reciprocatory bed for traversing a printing form relatively to said cylinder, means for reciprocating said bed, a driving gear rotated by the reciprocatory motion of said bed, a mutilated gear connected to rotate said cylinder and adapted to be driven from said driving gear, said mutilated gear having a gap in its teeth for causing arrestment of its rotation by said driving gear, eccentric cam means rotatable by said driven gear about the axis thereof, means rotated by said driving gear in concentric relation to the axis thereof to engage said cam-means for initiating rotation of said driven gear to re-engage its teeth with the teeth on said driving gear during the printing stroke of said bed, and means for releasing said cam-means from said engaging means during the reverse idle stroke of said bed when the rotation of said driven gear is arrested.

9. In a printing press embodying a rotary impression cylinder and a reciprocatory bed for'traversing a printing form relatively to said cylinder, a crank-motion for reciprocating said bed'in opposite directions to traverse the printing form for a printing stroke and reverse its traverse for an idle stroke, a driving gear rotated in opposite directions by said reciprocating motion of said bed,

a driven gear connected to rotate said cylinder and having a gap in its teeth to cause an interval of rest after each revolution of said cylinder, cam-means for initiating the rotation of said driven gear to re-enga-ge its teeth with the teeth of said driving gear and start rotation of said cylinder, means connecting said cam-means for rotation by said driven gear concentric to the axis of said gear, means rotatabie by said driving gear about an axis common to said driving gear to engage it with said cammeans, means for disconnecting said cam-means from said engaging means as said driving gear is driven in the reverse direction during an idle stroke of said bed, and means for locking said cylinder against rotation during its interval of rest.

10. In a printing press embodying a rotary impression cylinder and a reciprocatory bed for traversing a printing form relatively to said cylinder, a driving gear driven first in one direction and then in the opposite direction by the reciprocatory motion of said bed, a mutilated-gear connected to rotate said cylinder, said mutilated gear adapted to be driven from said driving gear and having a gap in its teeth for arresting its rotation after each revolution of said cylinder, a cam-member carried by said driven gear, means on said driving "gear rotatable therewith about the same axis and engageable with said cammember for initiating the rotation of said driven gear to re-engage its teeth with the teeth on said driving gear, automatically-operated means for displacing said camrnember out of range of said engaging means during the idle stroke of said bed, and locking means engageable with said cam-means for locking said driven gear and cylinder against rotation during each interval of rest.

11. In a printing press embodying a rotary impression cylinder and a reciprocatory bed for traversing a printing form relatively to said cylinder, means for reciprocating said bed, a driving gear, means to convertthe reciprocatory motion of the bed into rotary motion for'rotating said driving gear, a mutilated gear adapted to be driven by said driving gear and connected to rotate said cylinder, said driven gear having a gap in its teeth for causing an interval ofxr'est after each revolution of said cylinder, a cam-member hin'gedto said driven gear, means rotated by said driving gear about the axis of said gear to engage said cam-member to initiate rotation of said driven gear and re-engage its teeth with said driving gear, automati- Cally-operated means for rocking said cam-member on its hinge to displace it from the path of travel of said engaging means actuated by the driving gear, and means operated from the drive of the press for actuating said displacing means.

12. In animproved mechanical motion, the combination of a driving gear, a gear adapted to be driven by said driving gear and having a gap in its teeth for causing arrestrnent of its rotation by said driving gear, cammembers fast with said driven gear for rotation about the axis of said driven gear, and means rotated by said driving gear about the axis of said driving gear forengaging said cam-members to initiate rotation of said driven gear to intermesh its teeth with the teeth of the driving gear after an interval of rest in the rotation of said driven gear.

13. In an improved mechanical motion, the combination of a driving gear, a driven gear rotatable by said driving gear and having a gap in its teeth for arresting its rotation, a member fastened to said driven gear and formed with an arcuate cam-groove disposed tangent to the pitch-circle of said driving gear and eccentric tothe axis of said driven gear, and means connected to and rotated by said driving gear about the axis of said gear for engagement with the cam-groove on said member to initiate rotation of said driven gear and re-engage its teeth with the teeth of said driving gear.

14. An improved mechanical motion for imparting intermittent rotation to a rotary member comprising a driving gear, a second gear adapted to be driven by said driving gear and having a gap in its teeth for causing arrestinent of its rotation, means for rotating said driving gear, and means for connecting said driving gear to rotate said driven gear comprising a member hinged to said driven gear and formed with an arcuate cam-groove in tangent relation to the pitch-circle of said driving gear, means on said driving gear rotatable therewith for en'- gagement with said cam-groove to initiate rotation of the driven gear for intermeshing its teeth with the teeth of said driving gear, a plunger shiftable, into position to engage said cam-member to pivot it out of operative relationship after re-engagement of the teeth of said gears, and means for operating said plunger.

15. In a printing press, a frame, a stationary rack extending longitudinally of saidframe, a carriage, means for supporting said carriage to travel in a path parallel to said rack, a bed slidably mounted on said carriage for movement relatively thereto, a rack carried by said bed in opposed parallel relation to the stationary rack on said frame, a pinion-gear journaled on said carriage with its teeth in mesh with the teeth of both racks to accelerate and increase the motion of the bed relatively to the carriage, a third rack fast on said bed, a pair of pinion-gears journaled on said frame in spaced apart tandem relationship with their teeth in mesh with the teeth of the last-named rack, an intermediate gear in mesh with the teeth of said tandem gears tobe driven thereby, and an impression cylinder connected to said gear for rotation thereby.

16. In a printing press of the type indicated having a frame, a pair of rails extending longitudinally of said frame, a carriage mounted on rollers travelable on said rails, a pair of racks fast on theframe in parallel relation to said rails, a bed slidably mounted on said carriage, a pair of racks fastened on the under side of said bed, pinion-gears journaled at the sides of said carriage with their teeth in mesh with the teeth of the racks on the bed and the stationary racks on the frame, a thirdlongitudinally-extending rack fast on the bed, a pair of pinion gears journaled on" the frame in spaced-apart relationof gears, and an impression cylinder driven by said intermediate gear.

17. In a printing press comprising a rotary impression cylinder and a reciprocable bed for traversing a printing form relatively thereto, a driving gear, means for rotating said gear, a gear adapted to be driven by said driving gear and connected to said cylinder for rotating it, said driven gear having a gap in its teeth for causing arrestment of its rotation, means formed with plural cam-faces mounted on and rotatable with said drivengear about the axis thereof, and plural means rotatable by said driving gear about its axis to alternately engage with the respective cam-faces for initiating rotation of said driven gear to enmesh its teeth with the teeth of the driving gear and rotate said impression cylinder.

18. In a printing press comprising a rotary impression cylinder and a reciprocable bed for traversing a printing form relatively thereto, a driving gear, means for rotating said driving gear, a gear adapted to be driven by said driving gear and connected to said cylinder for rotating it, said driven gear having a gap in its teeth for causing arrestment of its rotation, two arouate cam-faces on said driven gear disposed in eccentric relation to the axis of said gear and rotatable therewith, and two fol-lowers rotatable by said driving gear about the axis of said driving gear for alternately engaging the respective cam-faces on said driven gear. 1

19. A novel and improved mechanical motion comprising a driving gear, a driven gear having teeth adapted to mesh with said driving gear and provided with a gap therein for causing arrestment of its rotation, cam-means rotatable by said driven gear about the axis of said gear, said cam-means comprising arcuate faces of opposite direction disposed in eccentric relation to the axis of said driven gear and tangent to the pitch-circle of said driving gear, and follower means connected to and rotatable by said driving gear about the axis thereof for alternate engagement with the respective cam-faces to advance the driven gear and engage its teeth with the teeth of said driving gear.

20. In a novel and improved mechanical motion, a

. driving gear, a driven gear rotatable by said driving gear and formed with a gap in its teeth for causing arrestment of its rotation, at cam-member connected to and rotatable by said driven gear about the axis thereof, said cammember having a pair of arcuate cam-faces extending in opposite directions and disposed in eccentric relation to the axis of said driven gear and tangent to the pitchcircle of said driving gear, and a pair of followers connected to said driving gear for rotation about the axis thereof to cause each to engage in alternate order with one of said individual cam-faces :for advancing said driven gear after a dwell in its rotation whereby to mesh its teeth with the teeth of said driving gear.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 577,848 Gaines Mar. 2, 1897 648,424 North May 1, 1900 998,859 Robertson July 25, 1911 1,737,502 Kelly Nov. 26, 1929 2,259,441 Fitehett Oct. 21, 1941 2,674,942 Rockstrom Apr. 13, 1954 

